Riyadh- One of the biggest universities in Saudi Arabia decided on Tuesday not to renew the contract of a number of Saudi and foreign academics after finding evidence that they were influenced by the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood ideology and other similar organizations.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, the Riyadh-based Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud Islamic University said that following a detailed and permanent follow-up conducted by its Rector Dr. Suliman Aba Al-Khail, the university’s administrative council advised not to renew the contract of a number of Saudi and foreign academics who are affiliated to the ideology of the terrorist Muslim Brotherhood.

Dr. Abdullah al-Assaf, a professor of political social sciences at the university of Imam Muhammad Ibn Saud, told Asharq Al-Awsat that the decision was “a good step,” saying the education sector was greatly violated by the Brotherhood ideology, and therefore should be delicately monitored, particularly in the presence of some hidden and unknown cells.

Assaf also spoke about the importance of purifying all universities in addition to the public education sector from such ideologies.

“Those academics nourish the minds of the youth and therefore, have a great influence on them… They are also capable of recruiting some students to adopt malicious ideologies that are currently spread in several Arab communities, leading to strife and division.”

The professor admitted that any attempt to vet academic institutions in Saudi Arabia would not be an easy task and would require an immense effort.

“There is no doubt that the mission will be very difficult and therefore society and academic leaders should be prepared for such a task. I think that the news is going to be shocking for all the education bodies, not only at our university, but in all universities.”

Assaf said that some sides would attempt to blame the university’s rector for the dismissals. 

But “the university had evidence backing its decision,” he said.